Watch mounting



P 1957 A. BLUMSTEIN 2,804,746

WATCH MOUNTING v Filed Feb. 1'7, 1955 INVENTOR.

ABRAHAM BLUMSTEIN ATTORNEY United States Patent WATCH MOUNTING Abraham Blumstein, Forest Hills, N. Y.

Application February 17, 1955, Serial No. 488,784

3 Claims. (Cl. 5888) This invention relates to watch mountings and, more particularly, to a novel watch case mounting protectively supporting a watch and including safety latch means operable to expose the watch face for observation.

It has been proposed to provide watch face concealing mountings supportable on the person and including releasable latch means whereby the normally concealed watch face may be readily exposed for observation. For example, it has been proposed to incorporate such casings in belt buckles and in lapel mountings. However, such arrangements have not found wide acceptance because they have not provided complete protection for the entire watch, but only a protective concealment for the watch face.

More specifically, known mountings of these types involve a hinge connection between a watch casing and a mounting plate so arranged that the Watch face is normally held against the mounting plate by a releasable latch. When the latch is released, the watch case swings down to expose the watch face. No protective means is provided for the watch case as a whole or for the winding and setting stem, the greater part of the case, and the stem, being exposed. Such exposure is undesirable as it subjects the watch case and stem to potential damage when worn on the person.

Additionally, the watch constructions as hitherto provided have been of such a nature as to be subject to accidental or unintentional release, as by snagging of a sleeve or other part of a garment on the catch. This release of the catch unintentionally exposes the watch face, and may result in damage thereto if the release is not noted in time by the wearer.

In accordance with the present invention, a novel watch mounting is provided by means of which a watch may be worn on the person, as on a belt or a lapel, with the watch face and casing completely enclosed. A novel release catch is provided, of such a nature that it is not subject to accidental release and yet is readily accessible for easy normal operation.

More specifically, the mounting includes a housing having a preferably circular base bounded by a cylindrical wall or flange. A frusto-conical wall or flange extends radially inwardly from the outer edge of the cylindrical wall and terminates at a circular opening of substantially the same diameter as the watch casing.

The back of the watch casing is extended somewhat to form a closure for the housing opening, and a relatively wide and curved hinge lug extends radially from the watch casing for receiving a hinge pintle mounted in hinge lugs on the inner surface of the frusto-conical wall of the housing. A coil spring associated with the hinge biases the watch casing to swing out of the housing, such outward movement being limited to a substantially perpendicular position by engagement of the casing hinge lug with the frusto-conical wall of the housing.

The diametrically opposite side of the watch casing is formed with a projecting lug engageable by a catch in the housing. This catch is mounted on a pintle or shaft set in a lug on the inner surface of the cylindrical wall. The catch includes a substantially fiat detent portion extending inwardly from the pintle to engage the lug, and a reduced operating portion extending outwardly through an opening in the cylindrical wall and having an end bent parallel to the latter toward the housing base.

A coil spring biases the catch to press the lug on the watch casing inwardly to retain the casing locked in the housing. To release the catch, the projecting bent end of the operating portion is pressed inwardly toward the housing base which swings the detent portion outwardly a sufiicient amount to clear the lug on the casing. The hinge spring then swings the casing out of the housing to expose the watch face. The arrangement is re-closed by pressing the watch casing back into the housing.

For a better understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a front elevation view of the invention arrangemcnt as incorporated in a belt buckle Watch mount- Fig. 2 is a top plan View of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diametric section of the mounting, with the watch shown in open position;

Fig. 4 is a similar section showing the watch closed; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation view of the invention mounting as used with a lapel mounted watch.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, in accordance with the invention a watch It is hingedly mounted in a housing 20 in such manner that all except the back face 11 of the watch casing 12 is enclosed in the housing, the face 13 of the watch being disposed inwardly. Upon release of a safety catch, described more fully hereinafter, watch 10 is arranged to be spring biased to swing out of housing 20 to a position perpendicular thereto and exposing face 13 for observation.

Housing 20 includes a preferably circular base 21 bounded by a cylindrical wall or flange 22. A frustoconical wall 23 extends radially inwardly from the outer edge of wall 22 to define a circular opening 24 of about the same diameter, or slightly larger, than casing 12. The back 11 of casing 12 is extended beyond the casing to provide a lip 14 engaging the inner periphery of wall 23 to close opening 24 and limit inward movement of watch 10.

A relatively wide, curved hinge lug 15 extends from casing 12 adjacent face 13 and is arranged to receive a hinge pintle 16 mounted in hinge lugs 26 on the inner surface of wall 23. A coil spring 17 is arranged to bias lug 15 to swing outwardly. Such outward movement of the watch is limited to a position substantially perpendicular to base 21 by engagement of lug 15 with wall 23.

in the embodiment of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the arrangement is designed for use as a belt buckle watch, and housing 20 is formed to provide a belt buckle. To this end, the inner surface of base 21 has a bar 2'7 secured thereacross in spaced relation thereto, and receiving the looped end of a belt 25. In spaced relation to bar 27, a hook 28 is secured to base 21 to lock in holes 29 in the other end of belt 25.

At a point diametrically opposite hinge lug 15, casing 12 is formed with a projecting ing 18 cooperable with a safety catch 30 in housing 2%. Catch 3%) comprises a substantially fiat detent portion 31 having a bevelled inner edge 32. The outer portion of detent 31 is substantially doubled in thickness, as at 33, and formed With an aperture receiving a pin .34 set in a lug 43 on wall 22. An operating portion 35 extends outwardly from portion .33 in offset relation to detent portion 31. Operating portion 35 has a reduced section 36 extending outwardly through an opening 37 in wall .22 and formed with an end .38 bent inwardly substantially parallel to wall 22. A coil spring 39 biases catch 30 counterclockwise.

The mounting is preferably so arranged that catch 50 is at the upper side. pressed toward base 21, swinging catch 35 clockwise so that lug 18 can clear edge 32 of the catch. This allows spring 17 to swing watch outwardly and downwardly to expose face 13 for observation. The watch is closed by swinging watch 10 into housing 20 and rte-engaging catch 30 and lug 18.

Fig. 4 shows the mounting as a lapel watch. In this case, base 21 of housing 20' has a spring point 41 thereon engageable with a catch 42', Bar 27 and hook .28 are omitted.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

l. A watch mounting comprising, in combination, a housing having a base bounded by a peripheral wall defining an opening for said housing and substantially smaller than said base; a watch including a casing having a size of the order of that of said opening; said casing having a back, closing said opening when said watch To release watch 10, end 33 is.

is in said housing with its face toward said base, and a side wall; hinge means within said housing hingedly connecting said side wall to said peripheral wall; a latch member on said side wall opposite said hinge means; and a latch pivotally mounted in said housing between said casing and said peripheral wall and engageable with said latch member; said latch having an operating end projecting through an opening in said peripheral wall and being releasable from said latch member by movement of said operating end toward said base.

2. A watch mounting as claimed in claim 1 in which said base is circular and said peripheral wall includes a cylindrical flange extending from said base and a frustoconical flange extending radially from the outer edge of said cylindrical flange and defining said opening.

3. A watch mounting as claimed in claim 2 in which said watch is hinged to said frusto-conical flange and said latch is pivoted on said cylindrical flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

